Parking meter



June 8, 1954 w. N. woOoRuFF 2,680,506

PARKING METER Filed Jan. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FHNVENTOR. WILLIAM N. Woonnurr Jime 8, 1954 w. N. WOODRUFF 2,680,506

PARKING METER" Filed Jan 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I June 1954 w. N. WOODRUFF 2,680,506

PARKING METER Filed Jan. 25, 1951 7 s t -s t 4 IN VEN TOR. WILL/AM N WOODRUFF June 8, 1954 w. N. wooo'nu'i -t 2680306 PARKING METER Filed Jan. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

- INVENTOR. WILL/AM N WOOD/PUFF June 1954 w. N. WOGDRUFF 2,680,506

' PARKING METER Filed Jan. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR. lV/LL/AM N WOODRUFF BY A d Afzfys.

June 8, 1954 w. N. WOODRUFF 2,680,506

PARKING METER Filed Jan. 25, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVEN TOR. WILLIAM N. Woo/mun BY i from the main spring Patented June 8, 1954 PARKING METER William N. Woodruif, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Herschede Hall Clock Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 25, 1951, Serial No. 207,774

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a coin operated parking meter.

An object of this invention is to provide a coin operated parkin meter in which a plurality of values, may be deposited one after the other, the meter registering the total parking time that has been paid for by the total parking time value of the respective coins deposited in the meter.

object of the invention is to provide a parking meter of the type set forth above that will register overtime parking when the paid parking time has expired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a parking meter in which the drive mechanism for the parking time registering mechanism is interlocked with a gate in the meter coin slot, whereby operation of said drive mechanism is precluded until the gate closes the coin slot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin operated parking meter having mechanism. for registering the paid parking time and a separate clock mechanism for actuating the time registering mechanism in a direction to indicate how much time of the paid parking time remains.

A further object of the invention is to provide a time totalizing mechanism that operates by stored energy resulting from the force applied to the coins as they are forced through the coin slot of the meter, the total time recorded being a function of the diameters of the coins deposited in the meter coin slot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a meter that will totalize the parking time purchased by one or more coins having equal or different parking time value and add to that total unexpired portion of parking time registered on the meter at the time said coin or coins are deposited.

A further object of this invention is to provide a parking meter of this type which uses power only for driving a clock and requires no power from the main spring for operating other mechanism thereof.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will in part be apparent and will in part be obvious from the following detailed description and the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a parking meter constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the parkin meter, the casing of the meter being partly broken away and in section to reveal structural details;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism of the parking meter with the casing, index hands and dials removed;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section taken ong a line VV in position assumed prior to the insertion of a coin; is a fragmentary view in section along the line VV showing the mechanism in the position assumed when a. coin has been partly inserted in the coin slot;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line V-V showing the mechanism in the position assumed when a coin has been inserted ii: the coin slot and has fallen to the first coin S p;

dials being removed;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the mechanism showing the position assumed when the coin inserted in the coin slot is a penny penny has fallen to the first coin stop;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the mechanism showing the position assumed when the coin inserted in the mechanism is a nickel and the nickel has fallen to the first coin stop;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detailed view of the mechanism of the first coin stop showing a coin restin thereon;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in section along a line XII-XII in Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view in line XIII-XIII in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showin the mechanism in the position assumed when the coin has dropped to the first coin stop section along a position assumed when a penny is inserted in the coin slot and overtime is registered by the meter, the index hands and dials being removed and part of the framework being broken away and in section for clarity of detail;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism showing the ratchet and pawl in the position assumed when the coin inserted in the coin slot is a nickel and overtime is registered;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the mechanism with one index hand and dial attached, the mechanism being shown in the position assumed when a nickel is inserted in the coin slot but no overtime is registered, part of the dial and index hand being broken away for clarity;

Fig. l? is a ragmentary view in section along the line V-V showing clock stopping mechanism in clock released position;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of a clutch mechanism and of the driving connections between the clockwork and the other mechanism of the meter, the section being taken along the shaft on which the clutch is mounted;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along a line XIX-XIX in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a view in front elevation of the parking meter with the casing in place and with the door of the meter open and the coin box thereof partly inserted;

Fig. 21 is a view in side elevation of the coin box;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view of the slotted end of the coin box with coin stops in position to close the coin slot;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of the mechanism of the parking meter;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the mechanism of the parking meter, parts of the mechanism being broken away and removed for clarity of detail, the mechanism being shown in the position assumed when a penny is inserted and no overtime is registered;

Fig. 25 is a view in side elevation of the parking meter showing the other side thereof, the casing being removed to show interior details;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged view in section taken and along a line 1n the following detailed description, and the drawings, like reference characters indicate like parts.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 20, the parking meter includes a casing 3i! mounted on a post The lower portion of the casing is provided with a door 32 which can be opened for removal of a coin box 33 (Fig. 20). The upper portion of the casing includes a window 34 (Fig. l) of strong, tough which a dial 36 and index hand 3? can be observed (see Figs. 1 and 16). When a coin is inserted in a coin slot 38, index hand 31 is moved across the dial to a such as that shown in Fig. 2. The distance that the index hand is advanced is determined by the size of the coin inserted and the setting of the mechanism.

Coin slot 38 is provided with a gate 4! mounted to swing inwardly and upwardlyin the slot. When a coin 39 is inserted in coin slot 38 (see Fig. 2'?) the coin engages gate ii and swings it to the position Fig. 6. The gate is pivotally supported by a on a saddle bell inserted in the slot, saddle bell crank 42 1S swung upwardly to the Fig. 6 position. s2 swings, it engages and raises a second saddle bell crank 43. Crank 43 is connected to a power link 44 and a drive spring 45 (Figs. 3 and 8). As the coin is intransparent material through sorted in the coin slot and crank 43 is raised, the drive spring is stressed and power link 44 is raised from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 8. As the power link is raised, it swings a drive pawl arm 46 (Figs. 3, 8, and 24) upwardly until a pawl 51 carried thereby engages a pin is on a gear segment 49. Segment 49 is connected to a second pawl arm 58 by a link 5i (Figs. 3 and 8) so that when the segment is swung counterclockwise, pawl arm 58 is swung clockwise. A pawl 52 carried by pawl arm 50 is engageable with a ratchet 53 for driving the ratchet in clockwise direction. The ratchet in turn is connected to and swings with the index hand 37 (see Fig. 16). When pawl arm 58 is swung clockwise, pawl 52 advances the ratchet and index hand in a clockwise direction.

Segment 45! and pawl arm 5% are restrained by an escapement or governor wheel 54, a governor spring 55', and a train of gears 55, 56, and 5'? (see Fig. 23). Governor wheel 54 normally is locked by a locking lever 58 (Fig. 5) but looking lever 58 can be swung away and released from the governor wheel by a link 59. Link 59 is connected to a gate locking lever 60. Lever 60 includes a lock plate SI engageable by a lug 62 at the head of a trigger member 53 (Figs. 8, 9, and 10). When coin 39 is inserted in coin slot 38 and falls to the position shown at 3% in Fig. 9, the coin engages the lower end of trigger 63. The trigger swings the gate locking lever 60 to the position shown in Fig. '2 and thereby releases the governor wheel so that pawl arm 50 and its pawl 52 can be swung in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3, to engage and advance ratchet 53 and index hand 31 a predetermined distance to expose a predetermined portion of the face of the index plate. Thereafter, the index hand is returned under the control of clockwork to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The device described in general terms above is described in greater detail below.

The main framework of the parking meter includes a main plate n i and a hollow coin slot carrying member 55 which are firmly fastened together. Coin slot 38 is in member 55. Member 65 also contains a coin passageway 66 (Fig. 12). Passageway 55 is below and communicates with coin slot 38. Coins passing through slot 38 are guided into passageway 36. Details of passageway 66 and of coin stops which arrest coins therein will be described more fully hereinafter.

Crank 0.2 (Figs. 26 and 27) is hinged to member 65 by a pin (5'! that extends across the upper end of passageway 65. The crank 132 is normally held in closed position by a spring 58 (Figs. 5 When crank 52 is raised, a shoulder 69 on the crank is engageable with the lock plate 6! (Figs. 5 and 7) of gate locking lever cc to lock the lever 50 and prevent release of the governor wheel so long as the gate crank 42 is in the raised position as shown in Fig. 6. Further, lock plate 6! engages the shoulder of crank 62 to lock the gate in closed position when the governor wheel is released to prevent insertion of a coin so long as the governor wheel is turning.

Gate M is pivotally supported on the crank at approximately Figs. 26 and 27). The pivot is formed by pin ii. Pin M extends through slots H in the sides of members 64 and 35. The upper end of the gate is guided by a pin I2 which extends through the gate and into small circular openings i3 in-the sides of members 64 and 65. Pin 12 restrains the upper end of the gate and causes the gate to swing well arm 50 by a short link 9|, is stressed, so that, ha k and up and away from the coin slot when when the drive pawl is released, spring 9| rea coin is inserted in the coin slot, as shown most turns gear segment 49 and pawl arm 59 to their clearly in Fig. 6 When the coin is inserted in normal position, as shown in Fig. 3.

coin slot 38, the com engages the gate and a roll Pawl arm 50 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 73' at the lower end of coin slot 38. When the 92 which extends across the rear of the mechacoin passes the position shown at 39a in Fig. 6, nism (Fig. 23). Shaft 92 in turn is pivotally gate 4| is closed and crank 42 is lowered by spring mounted on a framework 93 attached to plate 64. 68 and the force with which the gate is closed Shaft 92 is secured to and turns with ratchet forces the coin to the position indicated at 3% 53, index hand 3'! and a second index hand 94 in Figs. '7 and 9. (Fig. 25). Index hand 9 is on the opposite side Crank 42 includes a lug 74 (Figs. 3, 9, and 10) of the mechanism from index hand 3']. Index which engages a trigger carrying lever 76 and hand 9 is visible through windows in the casing swings the lever back, as shown in Fig. 8 when the (not shown) which may be similar in construcgate 18 opened. Lever 71 swings on a pivot it. tion to window 35 (Fig. 1). Shaft 92 (Figs. 5 Level 75 in n D e y uppo the trigger and 23) also carriesa gear segment 95 that meshes 63 so that the trigger is swung back as a coin is ith gear 95 (Figs 5 and 13) Gear 95 inserted in the coin slot. mounted on the outside of a clockwork casing 97 Trigger Carrying v 5 i l ked to a track and is connected to clockwork inside the casing, C y n lever 77 by a p d k e d 0 which will be described in greater detail herethe tri r yin l ver 16 and rack carrying inafter. Casing 91 houses the clockwork of the le l 77 swing k and forth together- Lever parking meter. Gear 96 is connected to the rest I? sw n s n a pivot 1'. A spring is urges levers of the clockwork through a one-way clutch, indiholds l v r it in n m n w th l g i a 25 be described in greater detail hereinafter. The shown in Fig. 3. clutch permits the index hands and shaft 92 to When a coin is inserted in the coin slot, lever swing freely in a clockwise direction, as shown 16 and its tri er (is are push d back to the in Figs. 2 and 3. A spring 99 (Figs. 5 and 23) pesitieh h l n Fi Theh, When the coin urges shaft 92 in the opposite direction but the lie-S passed gate 4! it falls to a first coin stop clutch restrains return thereof so that shaft 92 8!, and lever it and its trigger 63 are returned and the index hands are returned only at the y Spring 19 o bring the lower end of trigger rate permitted by the clockwork. The return 63 a a t e eein (See Figs 9 and 10% AS the motion of shaft 92 and the index arms reaches a lower end of the tr r engages the coin, the limit when gear segment 95 (Fig. 5) engages a. trigger turns on its Divot 8 Causing the head clockwork stopping member Hi! (Figs 5 and 23). 62 of the tri r to engage 100k plate 61 s- Member ml is pivotally mounted on plate 64 and When eek plate 5| is engaged by the trigger, swings or turns counterclockwise, as shown in looking lever 69 turns on its pivot whereby the Fig 5 when engaged by gear segment 95 m lower end of lever 58 is drawn away from and it engages and lowers the and of clock stop releases governor wheel 54. A weighted lever md mg Stop rod m2 extends from t clock 84 hav ng a Shou e 35 (Fig- 53) engages the casing, as shown in 23. Stop rod IM may head of lever 58 (as sh w in t0 hOld the be connected to the escapement of the clockwork lever out of engage W governor Wheel 55 in any suitable manner (not shown) so that the during the down and return strokes of the pawl clockwork is stopped when the and of rod mg arm 50. When the down and strokes is lowered to stop position. Index hands 31 and are completed, levers 69 and 58 are returned by 94 are set to read a predetermined amount of a spring 35 to the DOSitiO at Which the governor overtime parking when the clockwork is stopped. wheel is locked, and a lug (Fig- 23) 011 pawl The distance which the index hands and ratchet arm 59 engages and raises lever 84 to release the are advanced each time a governor locking lever 5%? t governor locked the coin slot is determined by the size of the position. coin, and whether overtime is recorded by the As already pointed out, when crank 4? is swung index hands up and back by a coin in e c Slot, it engages The parking meter illustrated is designed to and raises crank 43 whereby drive Spring 45 is receive pennies and nickels, but it is to be under stressed, drive pawl arm is cocked and pawl 55 stood t t t mechanism may readily be p 41 is driven to the DOSitiOh Shown in fied to accommodate coins of other denomina- Drive pawl 4? is an L-s d m m plvotally tions. If a coin is inserted which is too small secured t p arm a free to move thereonto actuate the mechanism As pawl arm i5 is cocked, the pawl is engaged t dime is driven out f pas by a pawl t i member 86 w h engages one spring itaa (Figs. 3 and 12) into a coin rejecting arm 87 0f p w i a Swings the pawl cloekhousing I02 (Figs. 4 and 7) and falls wise, as shown in Fig. 8, into ehee-gehlent With chute Hi2" which directs the dime into the coin pin 4% of gear segment 59. The member 86 is pivotally mounted on the axis of gear segment If penny is inserted in t coin 1 1; t 49 and is held by a Sp 89 In positio o e 5 penny falls to the point indicated at deb in Fig. e and 600k pawl 47 When pawl arm 45 is 9 where the penny engages the lower end of the swung a su fi t distance, as Shown in trigger but the tri er carrier substantially abuts 6b When the ve Wheel is released, gear lug Hi. If, on the other hand, a nickel is innickel comes to rest segment as swings to the position shown in Fig. Serted in t coin t, t 24. where arm 87 of drive p wl 45 engages a lug 7 at the point indicated in Fig. 10 at this where the 99 O l Setting em e 5 a d d s ges nickel holds the lower end of the trigger ina posithe drive pawl from pin 48 her by re eas t tion that is spaced from its released position, s ar se ment, a sh wn in F g. 24. and trigger carrier is is spaced from lug it.

As segment 4% turns counterclockwise, as shown Accordingly, when a nickel is inserted, trigger in Figs. 3 and 8, a spring 9|, connected to pawl carrier 1%, link l8, and track carrying lever l? come to rest in the Fig. 10 position and further from the coin slot than when a penny is inserted. Track carrying lever 11 supports a track I03 which is positioned to engage a pin I that extends transversely of pawl 52 (Fig. 4) to hold pawl 52 off the ratchet for a major portion of the stroke of pawl arm 50 when a penny is inserted in the coin slot. If a nickel is inserted, track IE3 is held in the Fig. 10 position in which the track is disengaged from the pin I04 and the pawl can engage the ratchet for a greater portion of its stroke.

In the event that a penny is inserted in the coin slot at a time when the clock is stopped and the index hands show overtime, the index hands and ratchet are advanced the distance representing the amount of time permitted by the penny plus the overtime. The index hands and ratchet are advanced by engagement of a lug I05 on pawl arm 58 and the shank of a screw I00 which extends through the ratchet, as indicated in Fig. 14. If, on the other hand, the clock is not stopped and the index hands show that there is unused parking time remaining, the pawl travels along track H03 to the end it! thereof at which location the pawl is released to engage and advance the ratchet, as shown in Fig. 24, a predetermined distance called for by a penny.

If a nickel is inserted in the coin slot, track I63 is held back and away from pawl pin :05, as already pointed out. However, the pawl is held out of engagement with the ratchet for a portion of the stroke of the pawl arm by a release lever I00 (see Fig. 8). Lever $08 is pivotally mounted on shaft 92. Lever I00 is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 8 in which a finger I09 of lever 10% engages an arm III) of the pawl to hold the pawl elevated above the ratchet. Lever N38 is held in this position by a spring Iii. However, when pawl arm 50 is advanced a predetermined distance from its normal position a lug H2 on lever I03 engages a stop H3 and raises lever I00 from pawl arm 56 thereby permitting pawl 52 to engage and advance the ratchet (see Fig. 16) a predetermined distance, as called for by a nickel. If the clock is stopped or the index hands show overtime when a nickel is inserted, a lug II l on lever I00 engages a pin H5 on the ratchet thereby raising the lever and releasing the pawl to ratchet engaged posiion. The pawl engages the ratchet a distance sufiiciently in advance of the point where stop H3 is engaged by stop lug H2 that the index arms and ratchet are advanced a distance corresponding to the overtime (see Fig. Thereupon, lever W3 is held oif pawl arm III) by stop I I3 and the index hands are advanced the amount called for by a nickel.

During the down or operative arm 50, the coin which has been inserted in coin slot 38 is held in the position shown in Figs. 9, ll, and 13 and the coin rests on coin stop BI. As shown in Fig. 11, coin stop 8! is pivotally mounted and can swing outwardly from passageway 85. As pawl arm and gear segment 49 turn, a three-pronged coin catching member H3 is rotated clockwise to a position shown in Fig. 24:. As member H2 rotates, a cam arm H9 thereof moves past a cam arm i2I of coin stop Bl. As member H3 swings upwardly, it moves out from coin passageway and to the left, as shown in Fig. 12 to pass cam arm l2I and then is returned to the right by a spring 522 to a position at which cam arm H9 can engage the stroke of pawl other side of cam arm lZl to swing coin stop 8i away from passageway 06, whereby the coin is released. When released, the coin falls through passageway 56 and is caught by the lower arm I23 of member I I0 and held in the position shown in Fig. 3 at 39d until the next coin is inserted in the coin slot. In that position, the coin is visible through a window H4 in the casing of the parking meter (Fig. 1). When the next coin is inserted, member H8 swings upwardly and the coin is thereby released (see Fig. 3) to coin box 33.

As shown in Fig. 22, coin box 33 has a slot I25 at one end thereof through which coins enter the coin box. Slot 125 is closed by pivotally mounted stops E26 when the box is held with the slot down. When the box is held with the slot up, as for insertion in the parking meter casing, the stops fall by gravity to open position so that coins can freely enter the coin box (see Fig. 4). The coin box slides up and down on rails I21 on the inside of door 32 so that when the door is opened, the coin box falls down out of the parking meter casing. Then an empty coin box is slid up the tracks and the door is closed whereby the box is held in position to receive coins from passageway 66. The coin box is provided with a hinged lid 42% (Fig. 21) at the end opposite slot 225. The lid is latched shut by a latch 29 which can be sealed shut with a seal I30.

When the index arms and ratchet have been lowered, as to the position shown in Fig. 16, the index arms and ratchet are urged upwardly by spring (Figs. 4 and 5). However, turning of shaft 8'2, which carries the index arms and ratchet, is restrained by clutch 93 (Figs. 13 and 19). Clutch 98 includes a drum I33 which is fast to a sleeve 34. A clutch spring I36 is wound around the drum and held in place by a clutch sleeve iSi. One end of the clutch spring is free, while the other end is attached to a clutch plate H33. Clutch plate I38 in turn is connected to spur gear ltd by a pin MI. Gear E39 is mounted on a shaft Hi2 which is slideably mounted inside sleeve lat. Shaft I42 and its gear i553 are slidable axially of the shaft from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 18 where gear I39 meshes with a pinion M3 to a position shown in dot-dash lines at I390. in which it meshes with a pinion Hi l. A spring detent I45 holds the shaft I02 in either position.

Pinions i l?) and Hit are driven by a spur I45, as shown in Fig. 19. Spur gear I46 is connected to a train of gears (not shown) in the clockwork housed inside casing 91. The clockwork is driven by a main spring I-l'i (Fig 4) As will be understood, the clockwork may be of conventional form. Clutch spring I38 is released from engagement with drum 33 when the drum is turned in one direction but engages the drum when turned in the opposite direction. Drum I33 in turn is attached to sleeve we, to which gear '35 is also attached. As already pointed out gear 96 meshes with segment to connect the clockwork to the index hands of the parking meter.

The clutch 953, being a one-way clutch, is disengaged when the index hands and ratchet are advanced in a clockwise direction as shown in Figs. 2 and 16. However, when the index hands are returned in the opposite direction by spring 99 (Fig. 5) the clutch engages and the index hands are returned at the rate of speed governed by the clockwork.

The rate at which the hands are returned can be adjusted by moving shaft I 32 and gear I39 (Fig. 18) from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dot-dash lines.

without dismantling or operated gate normally closing said slot, a housing attached to said drive s ring and advanceable by said gate in a direction to arm in said direction when the drive spring is stressed, a governor restraining advance of the first mentioned pawl arm, a lock for said governor, a coin passageway receiving coins from prevented when the gate is open.

3. A parking meter in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that the ported by a gate carrying crank, that the gate he interlocking portions of the and trigger lock the trigger when the gate is open and lock the gate when the trigger is in governor released position, whereby release of the governor a pawl pin engaging position to a released position, that the track is connected to the trigger, and that the trigger is adapted to hold the track pose the trigger when the coin is of the other size.

5. A parking meter in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that the coin slot, the coin and passageway are adapted to receive that a track 1s provided which is movable from a pawl pin engaging position to a released position, that a spring urges the track toward pawl pin engaging position, that a pivotally mounted addition to the predetermined distance the pawl advances the ratchet when a com is inserted.

7. A parking meter in accordance with claim 1 character ied by the fact that the gate is supported by a gate carrying frame, that the gate carrying frame includes a locking portion engageable with the trigger, and that the locking portion of the gate frame locks the gate closed when the trigger is in governor released position to prevent insertion of a coin when the governor is released.

8. A parking meter in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that the first mentioned pawl is provided with a lug for lifting it from the ratchet, that a ratchet release lever is rotatably mou' ted on the axis of the first mentioned pawl arm, said lever having an arm engageable with said lug, that resilient means urges said lever to engagement with the lug to normally hold said first mentioned pawl off the ratchet, and that a stop is engageable by said release lever when said first mentioned pawl arm is a predetermined distance from its normal position to release the first mentioned pawl into engagement with the ratchet.

9. A parking meter in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that the first mentioned pawl is provided with a lug for lifting it from the ratchet, that a ratchet release lever is rotatably mounted on the axis of the first mentioned pawl arm, said lever having an arm engageable with said lug and a second arm engageable with said ratchet, that resilient means urges said lever into engagement with said lug to normally hold said first mentioned pawl oil the ratchet, that a stop is engageable with said release lever when said first mentioned pawl arm is a predetermined distance from its normal position to release the first mentioned pawl into engagement with the ratchet, and that means is provided for stopping the clock when the ratchet and index hand are at a predetermined position, the second arm of the lever being engageable with the ratchet when the index hand is within a predetermined distance of the clock stopped position.

10. A parking meter in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that the coin slot and the passageway are adapted to receive coins of two sizes, that the first mentioned pawl is provided with a pin and with a lug for lifting it from the ratchet, that a track is provided which is movable from a pawl pin engaging position to a released position, that the track is connected to the trigger, that the trigger is adapted to hold the track in one of said positions when engaged by a large coin in said passageway and in the other of said positions when engaged by a small coin, said track terminating short of the position at which the first mentioned pawl is disposed when the drive pawlis released, that a ratchet release lever is rotatably mounted on the 'axis of the first mentioned pawl arm, said lever having an arm engageable with said lug, that resilient means urges said lever to engagement with the lug to normally hold said first mentioned pawl oif the ratchet, and that a stop is engageable with said release lever when said first mentioned pawl arm is a predetermined distance from its normal position, whereby the first mentioned pawl arm and ratchet are engaged.

11. A parking meter which comprises a clock, an index hand controlled by said clock, a oneway clutch between said clock and said index hand, said index hand having a ratchet, a pawl arm having a pawl engageable with said ratchet when the pawl arm is swung in a direction to advance the ratchet in clutch released direction, means for driving the pawl arm in a direction to advance the ratchet in clutch released direction, a coin slot, a gate normally closing said coin slot, means connected to said gate for cooking the pawl arm driving means when the gate is swung away from the coin slot by a coin inserted therethrough, a governor for controlling the rate of swing of said pawl arm, a lock for said governor, a coin passageway receiving the coin from said slot, a trigger in said passageway connected to the governor lock and adapted to release the governor look when engaged by a coin in the passageway, whereby the pawl arm and pawl are released when the coin engages the trigger to advance the ratchet and index hand in clutch released direction, and means for urging the index hand in clutch engaged direction, the clock controlling advance of the index hand in clutch engaged direction.

12. A parking meter in accordance with claim 11, characterized by the fact that the trigger is provided with a locking member with which the gate is engageable when displaced from slot closing position, and that the trigger locking member is adapted to prevent actuation of the trigger in governor-releasing direction when the triggerlocking member is engaged by the gate.

13. A parking meter in accordance with claim 11, characterized by the fact that the trigger is mounted on a movable trigger carrier, that the gate is engageable with said trigger carrier when displaced to swing the trigger out of the passageway, that a coin stop is provided in said passageway to hold the coin in position to be engaged by the trigger, and that means are provided for returning the trigger carrier to a position where the trigger engages the coin and releases the governor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

